Mark Harold

Catholic Priest in Diocese of Salford

[Tim Vine @RealTimVine]

Ah Jimmy Cricket…what a lovely, inspiring, funny man. I have a great memory being at his home and he said “Do you want to hear my new song?” I said “of course”. He then sang it to me live while dancing about in front of me. I thought ‘I hope I’m like this when I’m older’. RIP ❤️

[Mark Harold @HarryManc67]

St Mary’s, Brownedge Spire Appeal https://t.co/hEsphoVhSI

[Antonio Spadaro @antoniospadaro]

Donald J. #Trump targets #PopeLeo XIV—and in doing so, reveals a deeper unease. When political power turns against a moral voice, it is often because it cannot contain it. Trump does not argue with Leo; he implores him to return to a language he can control. But the Pope speaks another language, one that cannot be reduced to the grammar of force, security, or national interest.

In this sense, the attack is a declaration of impotence. Unable to absorb that voice, power tries to delegitimize it. Yet in doing so, it implicitly acknowledges its weight. If Leo were irrelevant, he would not deserve a word. Instead, he is invoked, named, opposed—a sign that his words matter.

This is where the Church’s moral force emerges. Not as a counter-power, but as a space in which power is judged by a standard it does not control. Leo does not respond on the terrain of polemics, and for that very reason remains beyond its grasp. He is free.

And that freedom—unarmed and disarming—is perhaps what most unsettles. And, at the same time, what matters most.

[Bree Solstad @BreeSolstad]

The Israeli government tried to stop Cardinal Pizzaballa from commemorating the ONE & ONLY True Messiah’s entry into Jerusalem.

He decided to take it to Mount of Olives. Incredibly, this is the very spot Jesus wept over Jerusalem. The symbolism here is 🔥

[Catholic Sat @CatholicSat]

Cardinal Pizzaballa on Palm Sunday: “In this afternoon of Palm Sunday we gather without a procession, without palms waving through the streets. This absence is not merely a matter of formalities. It is the war that has interrupted our festive journey, making even the simple joy of following our King difficult.”

“Today Jesus weeps once more over Jerusalem. He weeps over this city, which remains a sign of both hope and sorrow, of grace and suffering. He weeps over this Holy Land, still unable to recognize the gift of peace. He weeps for all the victims of a war that seems without end: for divided families, for shattered hopes. But the tears of Jesus are never fruitless. They open our eyes, challenge us, and reveal the truth.”

[Custodia Terrae Sanctae @custodiaTS]

Joint Press Release - The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land

[Michael Haynes 🇻🇦 @MLJHaynes]

JUST IN: Israeli Police prevented Cardinal Pizzaballa from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre today, as he went to say Mass.

@LPJerusalem calls it a “grave precedent” which “constitutes a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure.”

Full statement from @LPJerusalem below

——

Joint Press Release
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land

Holy City of Jerusalem
Palm Sunday, 29 March 2026

This morning, the Israeli Police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, together with the Custos of the Holy Land, the Most Reverend Fr. Francesco Ielpo, OFM, the official Guardian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, as they made their way to celebrate the Palm Sunday Mass.

The two were stopped en route, while proceeding privately and without any characteristics of a procession or ceremonial act, and were compelled to turn back. As a result, and for the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

This incident is a grave precedent,and disregard the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem.

The Heads of the Churches have acted with full responsibility and, since the outset of the war, have complied with all imposed restrictions: public gatherings were cancelled, attendance was prohibited, and arrangements were made to broadcast the celebrations to hundreds of millions of faithful worldwide, who, during these days of Easter, turn their eyes to Jerusalem and to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Preventing the entry of the Cardinal and the Custos, who bear the highest ecclesiastical responsibility for the Catholic Church and the Holy Places, constitutes a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure.

This hasty and fundamentally flawed decision, tainted by improper considerations, represents an extreme departure from basic principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship, and respect for the Status Quo.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land express their profound sorrow to the Christian faithful in the Holy Land and throughout the world that prayer on one of the most sacred days of the Christian calendar has thus been prevented.

[Alan Tonge 🐝💙🇾🇪🦁🦁🦁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✝️ 📻 🎤 @Alan_Tonge]

One of the most poignant film clips ever. Jimmy Murphy looking back into the tunnel at Wembley, 1958 and imaging The Babes lining up. Guaranteed to shed a tear every time you watch it. Heartbreaking 😢 #mufc #FlowersOfManchester🌹

[Mark Harold @HarryManc67]

TNT panel for Liverpool v Villa match - Gerrard, McManamon, Cole, all ex Liverpool players. No bias there then.

[Vatican News @VaticanNews]

Watch highlights of the Prayer Vigil for the Jubilee of Youth, led by Pope Leo:

https://t.co/zUGlO41eK7

[Catholic Arena @CatholicArena]

Vatican News has written about the terror attack on Christians in Taybeh

'These repeated assaults,carried out by groups of settlers identifying themselves as the “Hilltop Youth” and led by extremist religious figure Neria ben Pazi,had previously targeted farmland and livestock'

[Vatican News @VaticanNews]

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem says the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza was struck on Thursday morning. Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest, has sustained injuries, along with several other people, and the Church has been damaged.

[Mark Harold @HarryManc67]

@EamonnONeal Congratulations Eamonn. Great job well done.

[Frank Cottrell-Boyce @frankcottrell_b]

Palliative care depends on charities, volunteers and donations.
But we're "comfortable" with assisted dying being run for profit ...
wonder why this ill-thought out, sentimental, superstitious bill is being rushed through ...

https://t.co/2Xl5BcGm86

[Bishop Patrick @BishopPMcKinney]

“Let’s hope the wheels continue to fall off this wretched bill.”

For a Bill with such far reaching social ramifications, the way its so called scrutiny is playing out is alarming to say the least.

Please do continue to write to your MP raising further concerns about this Bill.

[Cardinal Nichols @CardinalNichols]

If the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill is passed, it would be the biggest change that this country has seen for many decades, on the back of less than seven hours debate. In comparison, the fox hunting bill endured hundreds of hours of debate.

[Right To Life UK @RightToLifeUK]

Cardinal Vincent Nichols argues that it is "deeply irresponsible" for the Government to permit the assisted suicide Bill to proceed after so little debate.

https://t.co/nYHrEqAAUF

[Catholic Arena @CatholicArena]

ITALY

Pope Francis has been named the most trusted person in Italy, its 76% of people polled saying that they trust the pontiff and his leadership

[Salford Lourdes @SalfordLourdes]

Following the success of last year's event, the 'Mercy Brothers' will once again be playing for us on Friday 21st February at the Hough End Centre, Chorlton. Tickets are £20 and include a hot supper. Under 16s free.
To book visit: https://t.co/zeBOdWt8b0

[Mark Harold @HarryManc67]

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